Summer art programs for high school students offer the opportunity to dive deep into specialized creative fields, develop advanced skills, and work with industry-standard tools. Whether you’re exploring the fine arts, digital design, or animation, these programs allow students to enhance their portfolios, master new techniques, and prepare for potential college-level studies. From immersive camps and internships to pre-college programs, each opportunity helps build a strong foundation in various artistic disciplines, offering mentorship and practical experience in state-of-the-art environments. Below are 12 highly recommended art summer programs for high school students.
Location: Virtual.
Cost: You can contact here for more information regarding tuition and questions about need-based financial aid.
Program Dates:
- Summer seminar - June 24, 2024 - September 2, 2024.
- Fall seminar - October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025.
- Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Application Deadline: May 21, 2024, for the summer cohort, and September 25, 2024, for the fall cohort.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) are eligible to apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as environment, machine learning and social media, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and on college applications. Apply here!
Subject Areas: Art history, curation, digital art, and museum studies.
Location: Hybrid. Interns are expected to work on-site at the National Gallery three days a week, and work remotely for two days.
Cost / Stipend: There is no cost. Interns receive a stipend of $25.26 per hour ($9,093.60 for nine weeks).
Program Dates: The internship runs for nine weeks, from June 10 to August 9, 2024.
Application Deadline: February 29, 2024 for the summer internship. Applications for the summer 2025 internship program will open in December.
Eligibility: High school students with a passion for art and culture are eligible to apply.
For those interested in the behind-the-scenes workings of art museums, this summer internship offers a unique opportunity to work on digital curation projects while studying art history in-depth. You will learn about the role of art in society and how exhibitions come together. The internship program at the National Gallery provides hands-on experience to deepen your skills and knowledge in a practical setting.
Interns may assist with research, support exhibition planning, contribute to educational initiatives, and enhance visitor engagement. Additional responsibilities may involve helping with operations, collaborating on digital projects, and participating in conservation and collection management. Weekly sessions with staff, curators, and administrators offer insight into the gallery’s functions and provide opportunities for networking across departments and with fellow interns.
Subject Areas: 3D modeling, animation, painting, printmaking, acting, graphic design, game design, films and TV, advertising, photography, interior design, and fashion. Check the full list of seminars.
Location: SCAD Savannah and Atlanta campuses.
Cost: There is a registration fee of $100. The on-campus participant program costs $1,820, whereas the commuting participant program costs $1,508. A limited number of scholarships are available.
Program Dates: The program has various sessions that typically run between June and July.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. You can find more information here.
Eligibility: Current high school first-year, sophomore, and junior students are eligible to apply.
SCAD’s summer seminars let you gain valuable educational experience while developing your creative vision through engaging art and design projects. You’ll have access to the university's extensive resources and libraries, and participate in workshops that feature demonstrations, lectures, studio sessions, and local field trips. These workshops are taught by SCAD professors, alumni, or graduate students. With small class sizes of around 20 participants, you’ll receive individualized attention and have plenty of opportunities to collaborate with instructors and peers. Daily organized social and cultural activities will also give you a real taste of life as a SCAD student.
Subject Areas: Dance, drama, production & design, dramatic writing, filmmaking, game design, photography and imaging, or recorded music.
Location: NYU Tisch School of the Arts, New York, NY.
Cost: The cost ranges from $7,664 to $11,496, depending on the program track. Some need-based financial aid is available.
Program Dates: The program typically runs for four weeks in July. Summer 2025 dates will be announced soon.
Application Deadline: December 2, 2024 for the 2025 summer program.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or sophomores are eligible to apply.
The NYU Tisch Summer High School Residential Program is a four-week pre-college experience for high school sophomores and juniors worldwide. Modeled after the Tisch undergraduate curriculum, the program offers structured classes focused on projects, professional training, and collaboration. You'll earn four to six college credits, with a final grade awarded at the end. It offers students the chance to work with advanced equipment and software, such as Avid Media Composer for film editing and Unity for game design. This program is tailored to those interested in building careers in media, film, and interactive design.
The program concludes with presentations or showings of your work for family and friends. All participants must live on campus in NYU housing, either in Greenwich Village or Brooklyn, depending on their area of study.
Subject Areas: Animation, advertising, illustration, cartooning, painting, interior design, graphic design, film-making, sculpture, and photography. Check the 2024 brochure for the full list of course offerings.
Location: School of Visual Arts, New York, NY.
Cost: The cost of the in-person program is $3,250, with some need-based financial aid available.
Program Dates: The program runs for three weeks from July 8 to 26, 2024.
Application Deadline: Registration will open in December 2024 and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: All students who will be entering their freshman, sophomore, junior or senior year of high school in the fall of 2024 are eligible to apply.
SVA’s Pre-College Program offers an in-depth exploration of art and design. You will work with tools like Adobe After Effects for motion graphics and Adobe Animate for 2D animation, and earn three credits upon completing the program. The program places a heavy emphasis on digital skills, making it perfect for those who want to explore the intersection of technology and creativity.
Whether living on campus or commuting, you'll have access to extracurricular activities such as movie nights, museum visits, Broadway shows, and city tours, giving you a full immersion into New York City's cultural scene. With small class sizes of around 20 students, the program is ideal for those looking to develop their creative skills, build a portfolio, and experience the challenges of attending a visual arts college.
Subject Areas: Drawing, sculpture, animation, painting, digital photography, and printmaking.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.
Cost: 2025 program cost will be available here in November 2024. Some full need-based scholarships are available.
- 2024 Residential program cost - $11,392.
- 2024 Commuter program cost - $8,438.
Program Dates: The program will run for six weeks, from June 21 to August 2, 2025.
Application Deadline: Applications for the 2025 program will close on February 1, 2025.
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors at the time of application submission are eligible to apply.
In this program, you'll explore creative ideas using both traditional tools and advanced technologies in a college-level studio setting. You'll sharpen your conceptual and technical skills, preparing for future studies and careers in art. Classes, held Monday to Thursday, include critiques, lectures, and hands-on projects, with optional Friday workshops. Working in Carnegie Mellon’s studios, you'll focus on mastering technical skills while expanding conceptual thinking. Small class sizes ensure personalized attention and feedback.
The curriculum, split into two sessions, emphasizes personal, non-medium-specific approaches to artmaking. You'll explore themes like self, space, and systems, with assignments that develop your creative process and prepare you for college-level art programs.
Subject Areas: Drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, architecture, comic book / sequential art, creative writing, digital arts, fashion design, film / video, graphic design, illustration, interior design, and metal arts / jewelry. Check the full list here.
Location: Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY.
Cost: The cost of the program is $4,613.
Program Dates: The program runs for four weeks from July 8 – Friday, August 2, 2024.
Application Deadline: Applications for the 2025 summer program will open by November 2024.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and no older than 18 years old are eligible to apply.
High school students can spend their summer at Pratt’s Brooklyn campus, immersed in intensive courses in art, design, architecture, or creative writing, all set against the backdrop of New York City. Over four weeks, you’ll develop both conceptual and technical skills while creating portfolio pieces for college applications. You’ll take two studio courses, exploring various disciplines that reflect the diversity of Pratt's majors. Taught by Pratt faculty, these hands-on classes use the latest equipment and studios on campus.
The program concludes with a Final Exhibition, where you’ll present your work to the Pratt community. By the end, you'll have portfolio pieces and elective college credits that are transferable to many institutions. This program allows students to dive deep into traditional drawing and painting, as well as modern design using digital tools like Rhino for 3D modeling. Pratt also offers guidance in art history, helping students build a theoretical framework for their work.
Subject Areas: Drawing, animation, illustration, ceramics, storytelling, product and toy design, concept art, environmental design, fashion design, game design, painting, and photography.
Location: Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: The cost of the five-day program is $7,000 (includes tuition and housing), with some need-based financial aid available.
Program Dates: The program runs for five days, between July 5 to 31, 2024.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in June.
Eligibility: High school students aged 14.5 and older are eligible to apply.
The Summer of Art at Otis College of Art and Design is an intensive immersion program that offers the chance to enhance your artistic skills while exploring specific art and design pathways at a leading college. Courses include hands-on learning, lectures, and critiques in chosen Specializations or Drawing Studios. You'll earn college credits—two for Specializations and one for Drawing Studios. Taught by practicing professionals, these courses provide a glimpse into the lives of working artists and designers. The program ends with a final exhibition, giving you the chance to showcase your work in a gallery setting.
Drawing Studios focus on improving hand-eye coordination and fundamental drawing skills, while Specializations offer an in-depth look into specific areas like fashion, painting, photography, and digital media. You can enroll in both courses for a full 5-day experience, or choose 2-day and 3-day options for more flexibility.
Subject Areas: Animation, dance, music, creative writing, visual arts, theater, and film.
Location: California State Summer School for the Arts, Sacramento, CA.
Cost: The 2025 tuition covers the program courses, room, board, and most supplies. Some need-based financial aid is available.
- CA State Residents – $4,723.
- Out-of-State and International Students – $7,187.
Program Dates: July 6 - August 2, 2024, for the 2024 summer session.
Application Deadline: Applications for the 2025 summer session will open soon.
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 8 through 12 are eligible to apply.
The California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) offers an immersive pre-professional training program in the visual and performing arts, creative writing, animation, and film for high school students. It aims to prepare young artists for careers in the arts and entertainment industries. Students participate in one of seven departments, earning 3 units of California State University elective credit upon successful completion.
In the Animation program, you explore animation theories and techniques through workshops led by industry professionals, and work with Toon Boom and Maya software. The Dance program focuses on ballet, modern, and jazz, emphasizing technique, choreography, and dance history. Film students gain hands-on experience in production, collaborating with peers to create short films. The Music program offers a mix of Western and non-Western chamber music, composition, improvisation, and collaboration across art forms. Visual Arts students work in diverse media, from figure drawing to digital media and sculpture. The Theater program enhances acting skills through movement, voice, and physical theater techniques, while the Writing program offers personalized instruction in poetry, fiction, and scriptwriting, with access to industry professionals and guest writers.
Subject Areas: Digital video and photography, fashion design, illustration, animation, accessory design, architecture, graphic design, interior design, product design, painting, and drawing.
Location: Parsons' NYC Greenwich Village campus.
Cost: The cost of the program is $1,580 plus fees. A limited number of scholarships are offered.
Program Dates: The program typically runs for two weeks in August. The 2024 Summer Academy dates are July 29 - August 9, 2024.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and typically close in July.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9th to 12th are eligible to apply.
Parsons Summer Academy offers in-person, noncredit art and design courses for students, held over two weeks in August at the Greenwich Village campus. You will engage in hands-on projects that foster creative thinking, technical skills, and collaboration. High school students can also work on building a specialized fine art or design portfolio, with courses counting toward the Parsons Academy Certificate Program.
You'll gain an understanding of various art and design disciplines, receiving personalized feedback and guidance from experienced Parsons faculty. You will work with industry-standard software like Adobe Illustrator and InDesign for fashion and graphic design. Learning takes place in small classes with individualized and group critiques. This program allows aspiring artists to dive into animation or digital photography, while offering guidance from professional artists and faculty.
Subject Areas: Fine arts, animation, ceramics, fashion design, illustration, game design, jewelry, sculpture, printmaking, graphic design, industrial design, architecture, film, and photography. Check the full list here.
Location: Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI.
Cost:
- Residential program: $11,350.
- Commuter program: $8,715.
Program Dates: The program runs for five weeks, from June 28–August 2, 2025.
Application Deadline: Applications for Summer 2025 open in November 2024. Join the mailing list to get notified.
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply.
At RISD Pre-College, you'll experience life as a RISD undergrad for five weeks, following a college-level curriculum with full-day studio classes, critiques, and projects. The program includes studio work, visits to the Nature Lab and RISD Museum, and courses modeled on RISD's first-year Experimental and Foundation Studies.
In a typical week, you’ll have two seven-hour days of Foundation Studies, two full days focused on your Major, and a half-day of Critical Studies in Art, with evenings and weekends reserved for homework and activities. Foundation courses, including Drawing, Design, and Critical Studies, help you build key skills and a visual vocabulary to confidently discuss art and design. As part of the curriculum, you'll choose a Major that allows you to dive deeper into a specific area of art or design, with 12 class hours per week dedicated to this focus. The program concludes with an exhibition of your work for friends, family, and the public.
Subject Areas: Drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, and video art & experimental animation.
Location: Virtual, in-person, and commuter options available. The in-person and commuter program takes place at the University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: The cost ranges from $2,412 to $4,651, depending on the location of the program. Some need-based financial aid is available.
Program Dates:
- Session A (Virtual) - June 24, 2024 – July 6, 2024.
- Session B (In-person/Mandatory Housing) - July 7, 2024 – July 20, 2024.
- Session C (In-person/Commuter) - July 22, 2024 – August 2, 2024.
Application Deadline: June 1, 2024 for the summer cohort.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9th-12th are eligible to apply.
The Summer Art Institute offers three sessions—two in-person and one virtual—with a variety of specializations. The program combines daily studio work, artist lectures, group critiques, and individual meetings with faculty. Over the course of two intensive weeks, you will engage deeply in their chosen medium while exploring various media and contemporary art practices, guided by UCLA faculty and visiting artists.
Courses include Drawing, which focuses on techniques from observation and imagination, and Painting, where you will investigate both contemporary and historical approaches. Photography examines the medium’s form, content, and evolving practices, while Sculpture introduces techniques often absent from high school curricula. Video Art & Experimental Animation will encourage you to push the boundaries of art, experimenting with moving images and developing their critical and creative skills. Learn more about the course description here. Overall, the program’s focus on portfolio development ensures that you walk away with a competitive edge for your college applications.
Bonus Options - Lumiere Research Scholar Program and Veritas AI
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. You can pursue independent research across fields like art, history, linguistics, and more! To apply, click here.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML), consider applying to Veritas AI!
Veritas AI is founded by Harvard graduate students. Through the programs, you get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.